Building and Managing a Cybersecurity Program: A Practical Approach

Key aspects of building and managing a successful cybersecurity program.

I. Core Cybersecurity Concepts:

•             Information Security: Protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Achieved through confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad).

•             Cybersecurity: Actions taken to reduce the risks of internet connectivity to an acceptable level. Includes risk management and prioritization of limited resources.

•             Cyber Resilience: The ability to withstand and quickly recover from cyberattacks and other incidents. Crucial in today's landscape of inevitable breaches.

•             Risk Management: A process to reduce uncertainty about the future, including identifying assets, threats, and vulnerabilities; assessing and prioritizing risks; and implementing risk treatment (avoid, control, accept, transfer).

II. Cybersecurity Program Goals:

•             Meeting Customer Expectations: Protecting customer data (confidentiality, integrity, availability), complying with contractual obligations, and providing prompt notification of failures. Customer trust is paramount.

•             Cyberattack & Failure Resilience: Building resilience to withstand and recover from attacks, minimizing financial losses, reputational damage, and operational disruptions.

•             Compliance with Laws & Regulations: Adhering to relevant laws (e.g., SOX, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA) and industry standards. Compliance doesn't equal security but is crucial.

•             Executive & Board Support: Providing executives and the board with clear communication about program goals, status, risks, and progress. Supporting corporate governance and enterprise risk management (ERM) efforts.

III. Cybersecurity Program Components:

•             Essential Functions: Security Operations Center (SOC), strategic and tactical planning, cybersecurity guidance for major projects, compliance support, security administration (IAM, vendor evaluation, firewall management), and ongoing risk management.

•             Leadership & Management: The program requires both strong leadership (vision, persuasion, building relationships) and effective management (planning, delegation, accountability).

•             Team Building: Careful consideration of roles, responsibilities, core competencies, and individual strengths/personalities is essential for assembling a high-performing team. Delegation is crucial for scalability.

IV. Program Structure & Design:

•             Control Sources: While compliance mandates provide direction, widely used information security standards (COBIT, NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27002, CIS Critical Security Controls, NIST Cybersecurity Framework) are better sources for comprehensive controls.

•             Cyber Resilience Focus: Organizing the program around cyber resilience, using frameworks like NIST CSF or Gartner's model, ensures that controls effectively address both preventative and recovery aspects.

•             Integrated Approach: Develop a single, cohesive set of internal controls that address all program goals, multiple compliance mandates, and risk management objectives.

•             Policy & Compliance Architecture: A top-down approach, starting with high-level policies, followed by standards, procedures, and processes, ensures consistency and maintainability. Regular reviews are essential.

V. Communication & Reporting:

•             Executive Communication: Regular updates on program status, prioritized risk decisions, and compelling narratives for stakeholders. Utilizing tools like Cybersecurity Executive Scorecards can aid effective communication.

•             Stakeholder Communication: Tailoring communication to different audiences (staff, customers, media, auditors) through appropriate channels and with appropriate support.

•             Auditor Communication: Maintaining respectful but assertive interactions, disagreeing when necessary, and providing thoughtful management responses.

VI. Program Optimization & Continuous Improvement:

•             Annual Program of Work: Establish a calendar-driven program to manage budgeting, risk management, and reporting. Regular reviews of processes and controls are crucial for adaptation and improvement.

•             Working with Internal Audit: Optimizing the relationship with internal audit to leverage their expertise and improve the program's effectiveness and business value.